Five deserving new products have been nominated as finalists for the inaugural RISEDurable Products Award that will be presented at the Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics (RISE)Conference in October.

The inaugural RISE Durable Product Award will be awarded to a durable nonwoven product using nonwoven fabric and/or technology that is commercially sold and utilized in the consumer or industrial marketplace. The five finalists will make presentations to attendees at RISE, which takes place October 3-6, 2011 at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, Raleigh, NC, and then attendees will vote on the recipient of the 2011 RISEDurable Products Award.

The five finalists are:

1. UltraTouch Denim Insulation, from Bonded Logic, Inc. Commonly referred to as “bluejean insulation,” UltraTouch is comprised of post-consumer recycled cotton fibers, sourced from denim. These fibers allow for improved thermal as well as acoustical performance over traditional insulations, with R values of R8 to R30.

2. Soft Binding Sole (SBS), from Intermedius. The SBS-binding sole is a multilayer ESD-conductive sandwich laminate made from two polyester needlepunched felt layers. The top layer is printed with a logo and the bottom part is treated with a heat resistance treatment, which allows the usage of hot tools in the lasting process. Both layers are made with polyester, bi-component and conductive fibers.

3. PIG Grippy Mat, from New Pig Corporation. Grippy Mat is an absorbent mat that reduces slip and trip hazards around workstations, walkways and machinery while helping prevent liquid from being tracked throughout the plant. Eight layers of fine-fiber polypropylene absorb and retain leaks, drips and overspray of oils, coolants, solvents and water to keep liquids from being tracked around and the poly backing creates an additional barrier to stop absorbed liquids from passing through to floors.

5. Aptra Elements, from RKW US, Inc. Aptra Elements is a metallic, highly reflective, breathable, air barrier membrane made of waterproof, UV-stabilized polypropylene and nonwoven. The material maintains strength and flexibility without metal surface rub-off or oxidation and can be used for multiple uses within the building, architecture, construction, marine, tent and upholstery industries.

RISE is organized by INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry. Now in its second year – the inaugural RISEConference took place last September in Baltimore, MD. The goal of RISE is to provide information and stimulation for both durables and disposables companies looking for strategies to compete in an increasingly challenging 21st century marketplace.